Nonprofit Adopt a Rescue Pet in dire need of extra funding

Animals on the brink of finding loving, permanent homes are in jeopardy of losing their temporary sanctuary.
Adopt a Rescue Pet, 1500 E. Tropicana Ave., Suite 105, has until May 1 to raise about $40,000 of a $70,000 balloon payment lingering over the mortgage of its 5-acre Amargosa Valley property.

By MAGGIE LILLISVIEW STAFF WRITER

April 12, 2011 - 4:15 pm

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Animals on the brink of finding loving, permanent homes are in jeopardy of losing their temporary sanctuary.

Adopt a Rescue Pet, 1500 E. Tropicana Ave., Suite 105, has until May 1 to raise about $40,000 of a $70,000 balloon payment lingering over the mortgage of its 5-acre Amargosa Valley property.

Adopt a Rescue Pet, a nonprofit animal rescue organization that has helped more than 13,000 pets in its 10-year history, is seeking donations to help keep the sanctuary open. The site is about two hours from the valley.

The dilemma arose in January, when a promised, privately funded grant was lost after the donating foundation went defunct.

About $35,000 has been raised, but if Adopt a Rescue Pet doesn’t secure the remainder of the funds, about 300 animals would lose their home. The amount of homeless animals would overwhelm other agencies and the animals probably would have to be euthanized, said Elizabeth Davis Rubin, founder and president of the organization.

If covered, the organization can move forward in building permanent structures to replace the temporary buildings that the animals are currently housed in, Rubin said.

"In a nutshell, this $70,000 needs to be raised so that we can finally open to the public and start building a dog town," she said.

The organization showcases several of the animals from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday at PetSmart, 2140 N. Rainbow Blvd.

A fundraiser for the Amargosa Valley project is planned for noon-4 p.m. April 23 at Yayo Taco, 4632 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite 17.

While financial donations are vital right now, the organization is always in need of items such as kennels, buckets, bleach, building supplies and bottled water, Rubin said.

Generosity from the public and volunteers drive the operation, Rubin said.

Cindy Seglin and her family started volunteering with the organization as part of a Girl Scouts project that her then-12-year-old twin daughters Rebecca and Leslie facilitated.

Two weekends of planned service has resulted in years or volunteering that involves the whole family. Seglin helps with bookkeeping and microchipping the animals. Her husband helps with handyman duties. The twins are 19 now and busy with college but still help out.

The family has even taken in some animals through its work with Adopt a Rescue Pet.

Seglin said news of the Amargosa Valley property’s possible demise devastated her family.

"It put us all in tears," she said. "We worked so hard with what we’ve been doing these six or seven years."

Rubin and Seglin encouraged valley residents not only to donate but challenge others to dig into their pockets.

"Give up your cup of coffee or your value meal and donate that little amount of money," Rubin said. "It’ll be impactive."

Donations of any amount can be made via the Adopt a Rescue Pet website at adoptarescuepet.org or deposited directly into Adopt A Rescue Pet’s bank account at Nevada State Bank via the Adopt A Rescue Pet Sanctuary Account No. 102013604. Donations also can be mailed to Adopt A Rescue Pet, Admin. Office/Sanctuary Funds, 1500 E. Tropicana Ave., Suite 105, Las Vegas, NV 89119.

For more information, email arpinfo@ adoptarescuepet.org or call 798-8663 or 883-0035.